Benedict Townsend

The fact that the 1600 Group have succeeded in getting Vine management to come meet with them on their own turf is no small achievement when you consider that they're just a bunch of self-made creators now dealing with a tech giant. The shiny conference room already makes it clear they want to be taken seriously as professionals, as grown-ups.

The fact that the 1600 Group have succeeded in getting Vine management to come meet with them on their own turf is no small achievement when you consider that they're just a bunch of self-made creators now dealing with a tech giant. The shiny conference room already makes it clear they want to be taken seriously as professionals, as grown-ups.

Karen was leading the group on behalf of Vine, and of course Twitter, who were ultimately the ones in control, and perhaps more importantly, the ones who controlled the purse strings. It had already been made very clear to Karen that there were hard financial limits on any initiatives she wanted to bring in.

Karen was leading the group on behalf of Vine, and of course Twitter, who were ultimately the ones in control, and perhaps more importantly, the ones who controlled the purse strings. It had already been made very clear to Karen that there were hard financial limits on any initiatives she wanted to bring in.

By this point, Karen has been in her role for just a few months, but she's become very familiar with the many frustrations creators have.

By this point, Karen has been in her role for just a few months, but she's become very familiar with the many frustrations creators have.

Unfortunately, the 1600 group was not interested in conversations about new creative opportunities. Airing their grievances may have had some therapeutic value, but first and foremost, their eyes were set on the financial prize. Something which, unknown to the Vine team, had actually been in the works for months.

Unfortunately, the 1600 group was not interested in conversations about new creative opportunities. Airing their grievances may have had some therapeutic value, but first and foremost, their eyes were set on the financial prize. Something which, unknown to the Vine team, had actually been in the works for months.

That's Brendan McNerney again, you know, the mid-level creator who had inns with 1600 Vine. He'd segued into producing more experimental content, but still took a keen entrepreneurial interest in the evolution of Vine and was well-connected in techie circles. With a unique insight into both sides of the equation, Brendan could see the writing on the wall early on.

That's Brendan McNerney again, you know, the mid-level creator who had inns with 1600 Vine. He'd segued into producing more experimental content, but still took a keen entrepreneurial interest in the evolution of Vine and was well-connected in techie circles. With a unique insight into both sides of the equation, Brendan could see the writing on the wall early on.

Brendan and other creators were interested in pushing Vine to make changes that would help with monetization, but they were considering different schemes, which to them seemed much more realistic.

Brendan and other creators were interested in pushing Vine to make changes that would help with monetization, but they were considering different schemes, which to them seemed much more realistic.

But while Brendan and others were still discussing potential monetization strategies, the 1600 group were going for gold.

But while Brendan and others were still discussing potential monetization strategies, the 1600 group were going for gold.

It's exactly what Karen has been trying to avoid.

It's exactly what Karen has been trying to avoid.

I need you to take in the insanity of this scene. A group of barely 20-something internet goofballs.

I need you to take in the insanity of this scene. A group of barely 20-something internet goofballs.

Pranksters who we've seen tase each other, make fart jokes, strip down in shopping malls, jump into strangers' trolleys, scream profanities, eat spaghetti with a drill, perk their pecs to the beat of a pop song. We've done a lot of dumb things. This is the dumbest thing we've ever done.

Pranksters who we've seen tase each other, make fart jokes, strip down in shopping malls, jump into strangers' trolleys, scream profanities, eat spaghetti with a drill, perk their pecs to the beat of a pop song. We've done a lot of dumb things. This is the dumbest thing we've ever done.